Boating Injury Lawyer
Boating is a great source of leisure. It can also be incredibly dangerous. Every year, hundreds of thousands of boaters hit the water. With so many boaters on the water, accidents are bound to happen. What are your options if you get hurt in a boating accident? Do you need a boating injury lawyer?
Injured On A Boat In New Jersey Or Pennsylvania?
In most cases, you can file an injury claim against the insurance of the at-fault boat operator. In New Jersey and Pennsylvania, this is not always the case.
Boat insurance isn’t required in Pennsylvania or New Jersey. So how do you bring an injury claim against someone with a boat? How do you file a boating injury claim in Pennsylvania or New Jersey? Here is the information you need to know:
How Common are Boating Incidents?
Boating incidents may be more common than you think. The United States Coast Guard shared that 4,168 boating incidences occurred in 2019. Of these accidents, there were over 2,000 injuries with 613 deaths.
The most common reasons for boating accidents:
- boating under the influence
- inattentiveness
- lack of boating training
- improper lookout of other boaters
- excessive speed
- no proper safety instructions
- lack of safety equipment
Lack of proper safety wear i.e. lifejackets is a major contributor to boating accident fatalities. Proper fitting life jackets save lives.
Common Injuries of Boating Accidents
There are many ways to be injured on a boat on the water. Here are the most common boating injuries:
- fractured bones
- lacerations
- spinal cord injuries
- traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- drowning
- death
A lifejacket can save your life. Paying attention to children on boats is very important to prevent an accident.
Boating Insurance Requirement In NJ Or PA
New Jersey and Pennsylvania are two states that DO NOT require boating insurance. This can become messy in the event of a boating accident.
File A Boating Accident Report
If you have a boating accident in NJ or PA, you need to immediately file an accident report to the U.S. Coast Guard. You must file this report within 48 hours of the incident. You may also contact the police to file a report. Always exchange information with the other boater.
If the at-fault boat operator has insurance, their insurance may cover the injuries. Additionally, your own insurance may cover expenses. Boating insurance covers bodily injury, damage to property, passengers, liability, and more.
Boat Accident Liability
There may be one or several parties liable in a boating accident. They are as follows:
- manufacturer of the boat
- driver
- owner
- boat rental company
- passenger
Hire a Boating Accident Lawyer
You should consult an injury lawyer after any accident. If the boat owner does not have insurance, a boating injury lawyer can still help. It can be difficult to assess liability in these situations. But, a trained personal injury attorney can help you.
Proving Boating Negligence
You have the duty to prove the responsibility of a negligent boat operator for a successful claim. An experienced boating accident lawyer can help prove your case.
If the claim is valid, you may receive compensation from those responsible. This can include the owner, manufacturer, or even home insurance of the at-fault party. Additionally, a boating injury lawyer will investigate and help you get the money you deserve.
Free Boating Injury Consultation
Contact a boating accident attorney today to see if you have a claim. At Kane & Silverman, we provide free boating injury consultations with an experienced lawyer.
Kane & Silverman Injury Law Firm
Kane & Silverman has been helping injured people since 1990. We have offices in Pennsylvania and New Jersey.